Mark Millar is an interesting writer, but he is not only interesting he is a really good writer.  He can take a concept no matter what it is and keep the reader hooked by spinning the tale left when it should go right or going up when it should go down. When he decided to publish some of his Millarworld titles through Icon he decided to poke some fun at DC’s top heroes such as Batman and Superman.  When working on the Authority he and Warren Ellis had done a similar thing, but where that book was a direct pot-shot, Superior while clearly an almost carbon copy, is more of an homage.

Taking many of the traits of Superman, such as his strengths and powers as well as borrowing from Captain Marvel, specifically the Freddy Freeman alter ego renamed Simon Pooni; Millar crafts a story of a young boy just trying to survive until something miraculous happens to him.  Simon soon becomes the hero Superior thanks to the intervention of a magical monkey not realizing that nothing is as it seems and that nothing in life is ever free.

It was a stroke of genius on Millar’s part to put this book out, especially how blatantly and perhaps how lovingly he borrowed from DC.  In reality, this book is exactly how Superman should have been written instead of the way it has been the last twenty or so years since the end of the John Byrne run.  Millar knows Superman, inside and out, also having written the Superman Adventures back in the day and having expressed his desire to write the main books yet never having the option.  So what does one do when essentially being told they will never get the chance to play with the toys they want?  They create a new one.

Bringing Leinil Francis Yu on board was also a good move as he also penciled Superman: Birthright among other tenures such as Hulk and Avengers and too many more to count.  His pencils are tight and clean and have not been better before or since.  His panel breakdowns are slick and the book flows quickly even when there is no direct action.  Having an experienced penciller on board helped the book immensely and Yu brought everything he had to the table making it another coup for Millar by surrounding himself with great artists like Yu.

This is a great book but many would say that Millar just gave us another Superman allegory, one that mocks the original by simply being published.  In retort, Superior is the Superman book we have always deserved, the one we have all been lonaging for.  So if you are looking for a book about truth, justice and the American way – then read Superior.

5 out of 5